Get Connected In 20 Minutes A Week – New Years

The Parents Coach - column By Timothy Smith | www.ParentsCoach.org
Blog: ParentsCoach.Wordpress.com
Sponsored by www.FamilyValuesCinema.com/TS

"Get Connected In 20 Minutes A Week"
A weekly family activity adapted from: 52 Family Time Ideas by Timothy Smith ©2006
Draw Closer To Your Kids as You Draw Your Kids Closer to God
Bethany House Publishers

1. Main Point: God has provided for our needs and has given us a whole new year to remember Him and appreciate what He does for us.
2. Materials Needed: Food for a meal; candles; Sparkling cider, plastic champagne glasses, dessert, gold ribbons, silver seal stickers and parchment-looking paper. See the Advance Preparation that follows.
3. Warm up: Have a nice family dinner with candlelight. At the meal, read the scripture verses and ask, "What are some ways we saw God work this past year? We don't want to forget those. How can we be sure to remember them?"
4. Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 8:10-16
After a meal, satisfied, bless God, your God, for the good land He has given you. Make sure you don't forget God, your God, by not keeping His commandments, His rules and regulations that I command you today. Make sure that when you eat and are satisfied, build pleasant houses and settle in, see your herds and flocks flourish and more and more money come in, watch your standard of living going up and up - make sure you don't become so full of yourself and your things that you forget God, your God. MSG
5. Activity: New Year's Eve Family Party
Set the clocks way ahead and get ready to celebrate with the kids as the clock strikes midnight. Option: Serve chilled sparkling apple juice or cider in plastic champagne glasses and make a toast to each child as you present their certificates.
6. Family Discussion:
What does the Bible say?
1) Ask: "What does the passage say no one should forget, even when things are going great?"
2) Ask: "What do you think about your certificates?"
3) Ask: "As you look at the New Year - full of possibilities, accomplishments and growth; what are you excited about? What do you hope for? What do you think will happen?

7. Advance Preparation: You will need to prepare a certificate for each child that commemorates significant achievements or display of character this past year. Use your computer to personalize each one, including the child's name in fancy font and printed on parchment-looking paper. (Examples: "Learned to Read," "Made a Great Friend," "Mastered the Fine Art of Bike Riding," "Showed Compassion to Others," "Made the Varsity Team). You can also add gold ribbons and silver seal stickers to make it look official. (Available at office supply stores.)
8. Today's Slogan: "God has given us the gifts of time and each other."

9. Adaptations for:
Younger Children: Set the clocks ahead so it will be midnight at seven or eight p.m. and make an icon or a picture that illustrates your child's accomplishment on his certificate. You could also add an actual photo of him demonstrating his accomplishment (ex. Riding his bike).
Teens: Your teen may say something about the certificate being "cheesy"; but they will keep it as proof that their parents love them and have acknowledged their growth. Try to focus more on personal growth than academic or athletic achievement.

Prayer: Dear Father God, we thank You for time - for the privilege of seeing all that You did this past year. We look forward to the future with this brand new year where we can be alert to see You at work. We give You this day, our lives and the year before us. Amen.

©2009 Timothy Smith

Timothy Smith, M.A., is a family coach, author and speaker from Southern CA.
www.ParentsCoach.org He provides coaching in-person and via Skype®; as well as conferences, seminars and retreats.

Blog: www.ParentsCoach.wordpress.com
Twitter: ParentsCoach
tim@ParentsCoach.org, Tel: 805.376.3500